We Win

“…One mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” —Philippians 1:27

From the outset of the Revolution, it was apparent that God was on America’s side. Time and time again when all seemed lost, something humanly inexplicable happened.

God was shedding His grace on America. For our purposes, one story stands a cut above the rest.

General George Washington hoped in the Lord against the hopelessness of his small unprepared army facing huge numbers of professionals. On the very day the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, British army General Howe was landing the first of what would become 55,000 soldiers on Staten Island. On August 22, 1776, the British fielded 15,000 troops on the southeast shore of Brooklyn and on the 25th another 5,000, racking up nearly three-to-one odds against Washington. The already bad odds were worsened by the fact that half of Washington’s men were not trained in warfare.

The next day, the British had nearly surrounded their enemy in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn. Americans were outnumbered, their munitions depleted. Washington dreaded to see the dawn he thought would display his brave men strewn, dead, on battle fields.

Backs to the wall, all they could do was anxiously wait for the British to attack. They could surrender of course, but if they wanted any way out of this fix, their sole recourse was prayer. General Howe had already taken one group by surprise the night before. For some strange (obviously providential) reason, though, he did not follow up on this victory. Had he attacked on the 27th, America would have been finished. Washington waited and waited, as it became surprisingly apparent that Howe was not going to attack.

With hours to spare, by the following night Washington was ready to carry out a wild plan. He would transport every last soldier in Brooklyn in small boats across the mile-wide East River, well within firing range of the British fleet.The risk of being detected seemed suicidal . . . but for the grace of God!

On the night of the excursion, God covered the men with a storm (heavy rain and a powerful northwest wind), and in the morning He hid them in dense fog. The enemy was blinded and the Continental Army escaped!

This is just a snippet from a prolonged war, and we all know the outcome: a small band of ragtag revolutionaries tackled an empire, the British Empire and won! They won because God gave them victory two significant ways (among others).

First, He strengthened the ragtag band with a common goal. They were one mind, striving together for democracy—freedom from a government that did not grant representation. This unity of mind and determination to produce a superior, self-governing nation fueled Washington’s inferior forces with power to endure the most horrible circumstances together.

Secondly, to make up for “underdog” weaknesses, God so obviously intervened on these two supernatural occasions—stopping Howe’s second attack and concealing Washington’s troops in “bad” weather.

Beloved, today the Church is that small band of ragtag revolutionaries. We’re outnumbered . . . but we’re going to win! There’s more malevolent evil than benevolent good in the world, but we’re going to win because we trust in a sovereign God and we’re a team, partners striving together for the faith of the Gospel. God will give us victory through unity, and where and when we’re outclassed and outnumbered, God will providentially intervene.

We must stay on our knees, we must stay in God’s Word, and we must continue to be light in this dark world. Don’t lose heart my friend, remember we win!

About Precepts for Life

This half-hour Bible study program teaches you practical Bible study tools. Verse by verse you'll discover how to observe God's Word, interpret its meaning, and apply its truth to your daily life.

About Kay Arthur

Kay Arthur’s exciting, practical approach to the Scriptures has influenced thousands to use the Inductive Bible Study Method in their personal studies. Her distinguished Christian character, Bible teaching, championing of the Inductive Bible Study Method, and national radio and television programs motivate others to discover truth for themselves. Kay’s passion is for people to be established in God’s Word.

At the age of 29, a divorced mother of two working as a nurse, Kay called in sick to the hospital where she was working because she was sick at heart, sick over the life of sin she had been living. She had a religion but did not possess a relationship with God. On the morning of July 16, 1963, she fell on her knees as a sinner and rose as pure and whole in the Lord’s sight. “For ‘Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved’” Romans 10:13, (NASB). “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB). She hungered and thirsted for the Word of truth and began studying the Bible. Her relationship with the Lord and scriptural findings turned her sorrows into joy and her mourning into laughter.

God’s love poured down upon her in 1965 when she married a missionary with the Pocket Testament League named Jack Arthur. Together they served as missionaries in Mexico for three and a half years until health issues led them back to the States. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jack began managing a Christian radio station, and Kay began a teen Bible study. Though the study started as a small gathering in the living room of the couple’s home, it soon grew from teens to college students to adults. From the beginning of the gatherings Kay’s and Jack’s deepest desire was to establish people in God’s Word. The ministry they founded in 1970 became Precept Ministries International where they served together as CO-CEOs until February 2012 when they stepped down and their son David assumed the role of CEO. Both Kay and Jack are still actively working at the Ministry.

As one of the principal Bible teachers at Precept Ministries, Kay speaks extensively domestically and internationally teaching the Word of God and the Inductive Bible Study Method. She has taught in many countries including Israel, India, Romania, Russia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Taiwan, England, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Scotland, Ukraine, Germany, Guatemala, Poland, and South Africa.

Kay is the teacher and host of Precepts for Life, a daily television, radio, and online program which takes the student through the Bible book-by-book, verse-by-verse using the Inductive Bible Study Method. Precepts for Life has an audience reach of over 75 million households and broadcasts into over 30 countries. Precepts for Life was voted Best Television Teaching Program for 2004 and 2009 by the National Religious Broadcasters.

Arthur was awarded the prestigious NRB Hall of Fame Award at the 2011 National Religious Broadcasters Convention and Exposition. NRB's most prestigious award is presented to an individual NRB member for invaluable contribution to the field of Christian communications, exhibition of the highest standards and evidence of faithfulness in Christ.

She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tennessee Temple University for her outstanding biblical knowledge. She has written over 100 books and Bible studies, with over ten million in print. Four of her books have received the prestigious Gold Medallion Award. Kay was recently awarded the National Religious Broadcasters Association “Best Television Teaching Award” for Precepts for Life, Precept Ministries’ half-hour television program.

In February 2012 Kay was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Christian Women in Media Association. This esteemed award is presented to a CWIMA member for their faithful involvement and impact to Christian communications.